Former Blues exec. lands in Columbus

The Columbus Blue Jackets will introduce longtime NHL executive, Hall of Fame broadcaster and former goaltender John Davidson as the club’s president of hockey operations. The 59 year old Davidison will report to majority owner John P. McConnell and will have control of the team’s hockey operations, including general manager Scott Howson, according to the Columbus Dispatch. The paper said team president Mike Priest will remain with the team but will focus on the business side of the organization.

Davidson, who became a Hall of Fame broadcaster following his playing career, spent the past six seasons as president of the St. Louis Blues before leaving the team earlier this month. Davidson had been rumored to be joining the Blue Jackets since May, when a window in his contract with the Blues allowed him to meet with other teams. Just two weeks ago, after his contract buyout with the Blues was completed, Davidson and his wife returned to Columbus to meet with McConnell, Priest and others in the front office, and take a tour of the area.

The Blue Jackets had the fewest points in the League last season, and that’s a situation that Davidson is used to. When he joined the Blues. St. Louis finished with the fewest points in the League in the 2005-06 season, but just three seasons later they were in the playoffs, and last season won the Central Division, under the leadership of Ken Hitchcock behind the bench, who last coached at Columbus before coming to St. Louis.

Davidson spent 10 seasons as a goalie in the NHL with the Blues and New York Rangers, and rose to prominence as a TV broadcaster. In 2009 he was honored by the Hockey Hall of Fame with the Foster Hewitt Memorial Award for his contributions to broadcasting.